Spring clasping terminal for electric connectors



H. B. SHERMAN AND F. D. MALTBY.

SPRING CLASPING TERMINAL FOR ELECTRIC CONNECTORS. APPLICATION FILED JAN.22, 1919.

1 ,3 52,092 Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD B. SHERMAN AND FRANK D. MALTBY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN; SAID MALTBY ASSIGN'OR T0 SAID SHERMAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

Application filed January 22, 1919. Serial No. 272,488.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HOWARD B. Smn- MAN and F RANK D. MALTBY, citizens of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Clasping Terminals for Electrical Connectors; and we hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for connecting electrical conductors with electroreceptive devices and the like, and has particular reference to means for connecting terminals of electrical supply wires to spark plugs, binding posts and the like.

The objects of the invention are to enable the terminals to be readily attached to the conductor, and thus enable such conductor, or supply wire, to be readily connected by such termlnal with a spark plug, windin post, etc.; without requiring any specla tools or any special mechanical skill.

Our invention enables good electrical connections to be made very quickly and readily, as hereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, and some modifications thereof -(all of which are shown merely to exemplify and not limit the invention)and will describe the same to enable others skilled in the art to adopt and use the invention; but we do not consider the invention restricted to any of the particular constructions shown, except as parts thereof may be specifically recited in some of the claims. 7

In the claims we have summarized the novel essentials of the invention and novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for all of which protection is desired.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a complete electrical connection between a conductor, or supply wire, and a spark plug-stem, or binding post; such connection embodying the at present preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the terminal showing the preferred manner of connecting same to the supply wire.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate various modifications of the terminal.

The conductor C may be of any desired kind, being shown as an ordinary copper wire or cable incased in an insulating covermg. This conductor is usually provided with some kind of a terminal electrically connectedwith the conductor and adapted to facilitate engagement thereof with the stem of a spark plug, or with a binding post. A spark plug P is indicated in the drawings, and may be of any suitable kind, and is shown as having a threaded stem or bind mg post p upon which a nut is usually screwed to clamp the end or terminal of the conductor thereto.

In the present invention to facilitate connecting the terminal to the conductor the insulating covering is stripped off the end of the conductor wire, and such stripped end is then inserted into one end of a sleeve 1. This sleeve 1 is preferably formed of insulating material and has an internal partition 1 provided with a small aperture for the passage of the bared end of the conductor, which usually comprises a plurality of fine .wires, and the ends of such wires, projecting through the partition 1*, are bent over or turned against the face of the partition 1, and pinched thereagainst by the shank 2 of a suitable terminal. v

This terminal may be made of copper or other suitable conductor of electricity, and is preferably formed with a threaded shank 2 and a tongue as shown which is adapted to be engaged with the binding post, or shank of the spark plug, as hereinafter described. In the description and claims where we refer to a binding post we intend thereby to include the usual part or member of any electro-receptive device or electro-transmission or translating device, with which conductors are to be connected.

The terminal shank 2 is preferably externally threaded and screwed into the internally threaded end of the sleeve 1 opposite that into which the conductor is entered, and the shank seats upon the ends of the wires and not only makes an excellent electrical connection therewith but also unites the Wires mechanically with the sleeve by the screw pressure exerted on the bent ends of the wires so they cannot be with drawn from the sleeve. Y

The sleeve 1, when made of suitable insulating material, also acts as an insulating covering and protects the operator from electrical shock in handling the conductor.

' In the referred form of construction shown in igs. 1 to 3 the terminal tongue 2 has its outer end bent substantially at right angles, as at 2*; and an expansible helical spring 3 is strung on the tongue between the shank 2 and the end 2; the end of this spring next the tongue is provided with an extension 3 lying opposite end 2"; and the extension preferably has a bend 3 in it. I

This terminal can be readily detachably electrically connected with a binding post or the shank p of the spark plug by entering such post or shank between the end 3 of the spring and the end 2 of the tongue, as indicated in Figs. 1-3. The spring 3 yields to permit the terminal to be snapped onto the shank or post, and then clamps the shank or post p between the part 2* of the tongue and part 3 of the spring, making good electrical contact therewith. This terminal will hold securely but can be readily engaged or disengaged from the shank or post without having to manipulate any screws.

As shown in Fig. 4 the terminal tongue has its end 2 slightly offset and the spring 3 has its outer end 3 bent to extend substantially parallel with and opposite the offset portion 2 of the tongue, and is provided with a bend 3 so that the terminal can be readily engaged with the binding post or shank p as indicated; the spring insures electrical-contact and retains the connector engaged with the spark plug shank or post; but permits its being readily disengaged therefrom.

In the form shown in Fig. 5 the tongue has its outer end bent in U-shape, as shown at 2, so that its extremity 2 lies practically in line with the body of the tongue; and a spring 3 strung on the tongue between the shank and the bend, has an extension 3 which projects across the bend 2 and has a bend 3 on its extremity which presses toward the inner face of the part 2 of the tongue, and is adapted therewith to engage and retain the binding post or shank p be tween the parts 2* and 3 as indicated.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6, the tong e has its end 2 bent substantially as in Fig. 1. A collar 4 is slidably mounted on the tongue and provided with a finger 4 which comes opposite the end 2 of the tongue. A spring 3 is strung on the tongue between the shank 2 and the collar 4, and presses the collar 4 toward the end 2*. so as to enable the terminal to clamp and hold a binding post or shank 7, between the parts 4*- and 2 as indicated.

With any of the aforesaid construction it is possible to readily engage the terminal with a binding post or with a spark plug regardless of how the spark plug sets in the engine cylinder; and these terminals prevent breaking or bending of the conductor, as the conductor can be led straight to the binding post or the spark plug without bending or cramping the wires. In each of these constructions the spark plug shank or binding post will be yleldingly clamped by the termlnal, which can be readily engaged or disengaged therefrom. And a car owner, if he has spark plug trouble, doesnot have to take a .pair of pliers and unscrew a nut to withdraw the terminal, but can simply take hold of the sleeve 1, or the cable back of the sleeve, and readily disengage the terminal from the plug. He can then determine whether there is any spark action between the spark plug and the terminal by wiping the tongue against any part of the spark plug that would give electrical connection and show a spark if the parts are in proper condition. And he can readily reengage the terminal with the post, or spark plug when ready to do so.

What we claim is v 1. In combination, a terminal having a tongue provided with a portion adapted to be engaged with a binding post and make electrical contact therewith; and an expansion spring member strung on said tongue and adapted to directly engage the binding post and detachably hold the said tongue portion engaged with such post.

2. In combination, a terminal adapted to be connected with a supply wire or conductor, and having a tongue with a bent outer end adapted to engage one side of a binding post to make electrical connection therewith; and a helical expansion spring slidably mounted on the tongue opposite the bent end thereof and adapted by its expansion to hold the bent end of the tongue in engagement with the post.

3. In combination, a terminal having a tongue provided with a bent end adapted to be engaged with a binding post, and a helical expansion spring mounted on said tongue and having a projecting outer end adapted to directly engage the binding post and hold the bent end of the tongue in engagement with the post.

4. In combination, a retainer having a threaded shank for engagement with a conductor and a rigid tongue bent to engage a binding post: and a helical expansible spring mounted on said tongue having an extension on its outer end bent opposite the bent end of the tongue and adapted to engage the binding post and retain said tongue in engagement with the post.

, 5. in combination, a sleeve adapted to be connected with an electrical conductor; a terminal having a shank detachably engaged with said sleeve, and a projecting tongue having its outer end bent at an angle to the shank; and a helical expansion spring mounted on said tongue and adapted by its expansion to hold the'bent end of the tongue yieldingly in engagement with the post.

6. In combination, a sleeve adapted to be connected with an electrical conductor; a terminal having ia shank detachably engaged with said sleeve, and\ a projecting tongue having its outer end bent at substantially a right angle and adapted to engage a binding post; and a helical expansion spring strung on said tongue between the shank and bent end and havlng anextenslon on its outer end bent opposite the bent end 15 of the tongue and adapted to engage the binding post opposite the bent end of the tongue to yieldingly hold the tongue in-engagement therewith.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we afiix our signatures.

HOWARD B. SHERMAN. FRANK D. MALTBY. 

